Europe supports US President Donald Trump's plan for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, with the European Union and Washington ready to increase their pressure on Russia by imposing sanctions if Moscow does not approach peace talks seriously, said the new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, quoted by Reuters, BTA reported.
On his first visit to Brussels after taking office, Merz stressed that the EU and the US would continue to support Ukraine, increasing the amount of funds they provide if necessary, although he said that Germany continues to oppose the common EU debt to finance defense spending.
"We call on Russia to finally embark on the path of genuine peace talks," he told journalists. "If this does not happen, we will not hesitate, together with our European partners and the United States, to increase pressure through sanctions," the German chancellor added.
Amid the increased checks at German borders, Merz said that no one in the German government had declared a state of emergency regarding immigration, rejecting an article published yesterday in the newspaper "Welt".
"We are currently carrying out more intensive checks at the borders. We are carrying out checks in the same way as during the European Football Championship last year. We will also continue to return people. But all this is in accordance with European law," Merz said during a press conference in Brussels together with European Council President Antonio Costa.